Onshore oil rigs are much like those used in offshore drilling projects, except they are used on land. Onshore drilling workers face many different types of hazards, from basic structural and environmental hazards to those associated with the chemicals they use to do their jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, working on an oil rig carries a higher-than-average risk of nonfatal injury.

Fire

One of the major hazards to workers employed on oil rigs is fire. Petroleum is highly flammable, as are several chemicals regularly used in onshore drilling, including hydrogen sulfide. A well can also build up too much pressure, which may lead to an explosion if it is not corrected in time. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, seven percent of all fatalities among oil workers were attributable to fires between 2003 and 2006, while an additional nine percent were attributed to explosions.

Falls and Falling Tools

Falls and associated accidents can be concerns in many types of workplaces, but they are major concerns on onshore oil rigs. The CDC reports that seven percent of oil worker fatalities were caused by falls from higher to lower levels between 2003 and 2006. Even more dangerous is when workers drop tools that then strike another worker, which caused 22 percent of all oilfield worker fatalities in the CDC studies. Workers wear hard hats to guard against this type of fatality.

Machinery

Oil rigs utilize several types of hazardous machinery that can pose dangers to workers. These include the drill, spinning machinery and support units such as cranes and forklifts. The fact that such machines are often quite noisy makes this danger even more present, as it can be difficult for workers to communicate with each other. According to the CDC, six percent of oil worker deaths between 2003 and 2006 were due to workers being crushed by moving machinery. An additional five percent were killed by electrocution.

Fatigue

Fatigue can be a serious problem for oil rig workers because it slows reaction time and increases the likelihood of an accident. Fatigue can be connected to the long hours worked by oil rig personnel. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, onshore rig workers typically work between 7 and 14 days in a row, and each day entails between 8 and 12 hours of work.